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Dave Alexander and his parents were standing on their front lawn watching Neil Armstrong drive away. They thought to themselves: Did that just happen? The year was 1959 — 10 years before the Eagle Scout landed on the moon and became a household name.
Scouts participate in the Greater Los Angeles Area Council's High Country Gateway Program. Photo by Rachid Dahnoun. Going camping or hiking with Scouts or Venturers isn’t merely a fun, fulfilling way to spend a weekend. It may also help you feel better, sleep more soundly and live longer.
The Aviation merit badge opened up a whole new world to Mason Andrews. “I remember thinking that it was like driving a car, but with endless opportunities for how far, how fast and in what directions I could go,” Andrews says.
Note: This is the 20th in an occasional series where I share Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos. See the complete collection here . To fully understand the impact Eagle Scout projects have on communities, you need to see to believe. That’s why I asked to see Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos — the same photos prospective Eagles…
What does your pack, troop or crew have planned for its 2018-2019 Scouting year? If the answer is “nothing yet,” don’t fret. Boys’ Life magazine has you covered with calendars, notebooks and poster-size charts to help packs, troops and crews Be Prepared.
The Scouts of Troop 3 from Goldsboro, N.C., switched to a hiking trip on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in their home state. Ronnie Meeks got the call nine days before he and his Scouts were scheduled to begin driving to Philmont from North Carolina.
Mankind meets man's best friend in "Alpha." (Movie Artwork © 2018 Columbia TriStar Marketing Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.) “An epic tale of adventure in the outdoors.” That describes the countless hiking, kayaking and climbing trips Scouts are taking all summer long.
Becoming an Eagle Scout is its own reward. Earning a college scholarship because you’re an Eagle Scout? That’s like a reward on top of a reward. The National Eagle Scout Association will award nearly $700,000 in scholarships to more than 150 Eagle Scouts based on their academic performance, Scouting background, college plans and financial need.
A simple act like singing a song can unite people, even if they’re on opposite sides of the globe. Tiger Cub Scout Jahnav Bhatnagar and his dad Anuj found that out when they organized a Skype call between their pack in Phoenix, Arizona, and a home for girls in India.
Note: This is the 19th in an occasional series where I share Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos. See the complete collection here . To fully understand the impact Eagle Scout projects have on communities, you need to see to believe. That’s why I asked to see Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos — the same photos prospective Eagles…
Photo by W. Garth Dowling You’ll find Sea Scouts all over this great land — even in places many miles from the actual sea. The belief that Sea Scouts must live near the coast is just one of the myths out there about Sea Scouting , the BSA’s program for young men and women ages 14 to…
Are you and your Scouts committed to leaving this Earth a little better than you found it? Start by making a pledge to stop using disposable water bottles for good. Your pack, troop and crew will keep dozens of plastic bottles out of landfills each month.
Your eyes are beginning to adjust to the growing darkness. The trail in front of you is becoming clearer and clearer. And then, like a firework on July 5th, something unexpectedly bright fills the sky. You’re momentarily blinded. Whenever someone switches on one of those super-bright flashlights or headlamps, that person ruins the night vision…
It’s a classic summer camp sound: the rousing wake-up call of “Reveille” played on a bugle. It was once practically considered a standard piece of Scout equipment; the 1911 Handbook suggested every patrol have a bugle. They are perfect for communicating a message in a large area instead of straining your vocal cords by yelling.
When 9-year-old Sloan Summerall started a small business selling eggs, his goal was pretty simple. The Webelos from Pack 3217 of Cleveland, Tenn., wanted to save $300 to buy a Nintendo Switch. But along the way, Sloan had a change of heart.
When Rachel Eddowes realized that graduates from George Mason University wear green caps and gowns, she knew just what to do. “There was no question how I would decorate my cap,” she says. She added a Venturing logo — already the perfect shape for a mortarboard — and showed everyone at the commencement that she’s part of…
Google wants to teach the world Morse code. The company has released a number of high-tech — and low-tech — options for learning this dot-and-dash communication method. While primarily designed for people with accessibility needs, these new tools are big news for Scouts and Scout leaders, as well.
A pair of Sea Scouts from Cambridge, Mass., took home the top prize at last week’s 2018 William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup in Galveston, Texas. The international sailing regatta has been held every two years since 2002, but this was its first time in the Lone Star State.
Summertime can be the perfect time to saddle up and go horseback riding, an activity appropriate for Cub Scouts as young as Wolf. But hold your horses! Before you grab your boots and reins, it’s important to know how to Be Prepared for your next ride.
The author’s son, who attended his first Boy Scout summer camp this year. When my son crossed over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts earlier this year, the leaders of his new troop made their philosophy on summer camp quite clear: If your kid goes to camp that first summer, it greatly increases the chances…
Even as Wood Badge prepares to turn 100 next year, it’s still charting new territory. Last month, a group of Scouters from across the country held the first Wood Badge course in the history of the Summit Bechtel Reserve. While the syllabus for this essential leadership training for Scout leaders was unchanged, this was a…
A Scout’s commitment to patriotism is enshrined in the Scout Oath. It says, “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country … ” On the weekend before Memorial Day, a Cub Scout from Texas put those words into action.
The world simultaneously exhaled on Tuesday when we learned that all 12 young members of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach were rescued from Tham Luang Cave in Thailand. Pulling off this rescue effort required dozens of caving experts and hundreds of volunteers.
Scouts are no strangers to the tallest peak in the contiguous United States. An online search will reveal many stories and videos of troops backpacking to the top of California’s 14,505-foot Mount Whitney. One such troop was Troop 1180 of the Orange County Council .
Crew 514 of Lawrenceville, Ga. Want to feel good about the future of this country? Spend a week talking to a bunch of Venturers. I did just that last week at VenturingFest 2018 at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia.
Philmont Scout Ranch announced Thursday that extremely dry conditions and the continuing risk of fire have forced it to close its backcountry for the remainder of the 2018 summer season. This means all seven- and 12-day treks scheduled for this summer are canceled.
The Alvarez family had gathered all the recommended survival items. They had water, food, a portable radio, batteries, a flashlight, candles and a first-aid kit. But nothing prepares you for a 175 mph hurricane tearing through your neighborhood. No drill can approximate the psychological effect of seeing trees falling, roofs being ripped from houses, and…
Gardner F. Watts has seen Babe Ruth hit a home run. Twice. He once met Calvin Coolidge, our 30th president, who died in 1933. And in May 2010, at the age of 96, Watts climbed to the crown of the Statue of Liberty.
Andrew Ford, a Scout from Long Beach, Calif., who learned to shoot a bow and arrow at Cub Scout camp, has been named to the USA Archery Team . Andrew, 15, competes at the Cadet level, which runs through the calendar year of his 17th birthday.
As temperatures climb to triple digits, it’s important for Scouts to remain prepared and safe as they set out on their next great summer adventure. For a quick refresher on how to keep cool this summer, I checked with Bev Singel, a registered nurse and the BSA’s health consultant.
Top row, from left: CJ Ahern, Brian Klotsche, Mike Fillizola, Ethan Rockitter, Nick Sadocha, Freddy Parola, Mike Mitchell, Benjamin Schablin, Stephen Vaiano, Ryan Krieger and County Legislator Steve Rhoads. Front row, from left: Matt Seaman, Peter Rowan, Thomas Kittelberger, Logan Von Runnen and Nick Cammarata.
Summer 2018 has just begun, but excitement continues to build for next summer’s premier Scouting event. The 2019 World Scout Jamboree is less than 400 days away, and it’s not too late to join this global Scouting celebration happening in our backyard.
Instead of dropping $1,000 or more to buy an inflatable gaga pit, a group of Cub Scout leaders in South Carolina found a better solution. They created their own. With half a roll of duct tape and a dozen pool rafts, the leaders built a homemade playing area for this unofficial sport of Scouting.
Scuba diving in enchanting aquamarine waters, sailing in a bay adorned with a lush mountainous backdrop, savoring a delicious fish and rice dinner cooked in leaves and bamboo. Sounds like a great vacation, right? It also sounds like Powder Horn at Hawaii’s Aloha Council .
At a similar fishing event last year in New York, Christian Carter of Pack 409 in Brooklyn, N.Y., proved that fish can be found anywhere — like right in the middle of one of the world's busiest cities. Professional bass fisherman Tom Redington calls it fishing’s biggest “urban legend.”
Going camping with Scouts gets you out of your comfort zone, but that doesn’t mean your campsite needs to be uncomfortable. After a full day of Scouting adventures, you’re ready to relax at camp. By following the five tips below, powered by our friends at Thermacell, you can make roughing it a little less rough.
Hey world, let’s get together for a chat. The 2018 Jamboree-on-the-Air and Jamboree-on-the-Internet, empowering Scouts and Venturers to communicate with other Scouts from around the world, will be Oct. 19 to 21. Add the weekend of Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA) and/or Jamboree-on-the-Internet (JOTI) fun to your unit, district or council calendar.
Jennifer Urban (left) and Miriam Linver are co-directors of the Research on Youth Thriving and Evaluation Institute at Montclair State University. We know adult leaders play a vital role in developing character in Scouts and Venturers. But how does that character development happen?
Addison Foli thought he should head for a career in marine biology, but after one semester, he realized college wasn’t for him. Back to the drawing board. What job should the Gainesville, Fla., Eagle Scout pursue? His godfather — an electrician — suggested he look into a trade field.
When it comes to gaining perspective about life, it’s hard to beat the view from the top of the world. Matt Moniz, a 20-year-old Eagle Scout and the BSA’s first Adventure Ambassador , made it to the summit of Mount Everest on May 20, 2018.
On your next walk in the woods, encourage your Scouts to look closer at what’s around them. In fact, why not make a game out of it? A Scouter in California has created a Backcountry Bingo Hunt game to encourage his Scouts to pay attention to the natural world.
At Hargrave Military Academy, cadets learn traits like respect, courage and integrity. They practice putting others before themselves. They become leaders who are prepared for lifelong success. Sounds a lot like Scouting to me. It’s tough to imagine a school sharing more values in common with Scouting than Hargrave Military Academy located in Chatham, Va.
No matter the uniform or country, a Scout is a Scout. From left: Scouts and leaders from Brazil, Nigeria, Iceland and the United Kingdom. Scouting is a global movement, and soccer is a global game. Now that the 2018 FIFA World Cup has arrived, I thought I’d offer a Scouting-focused look at the 32 countries…
For Nathan Fain, the toughest part of completing his Eagle Scout project wasn’t building an innovative musical playground or making sure it was fully accessible for students with physical or mental challenges. And it wasn’t raising $40,000 for the project or leading 19 fellow teenagers who helped him complete the work.
Robert Podboy loves Scout summer camp. This month, he’s attending his 59th consecutive one at Sinoquipe Scout Reservation in Pennsylvania. “I do enjoy camping and still go hiking as long as it’s not too strenuous,” the 88-year-old retired optometrist says.
Hiking boots are made for walking, and life jackets are made for canoeing. As for camp chairs, those are made for sitting down at summer camp. In fact, I’m going to say camp chairs are the most important piece of gear an adult leader can pack for their weeklong Scouting sojourn.
Left: Julie Anderson of the Orange County Council, with her family. Right: Claire Osterman of the Cascade Pacific Council at the 2013 Jamboree with the stars of the National Geographic Channel series "Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?" Anderson and Osterman serve as their councils' Family Scouting Directors.
Have fun, ride safe and respect the outdoors. Riding an all-terrain vehicle, like one of the Polaris ATVs found at select BSA council camps, is really as simple as following those three steps. But what about those of us who crave a little more guidance before hopping aboard one of these fun and functional machines?
Some walk, run or bike to support the fight against cancer. These guys paddle, paddle and then paddle some more. Think of it as Relay for Life, with kayaks. This month, two Eagle Scouts, each of whom turned his passion for Scouting into a career with the BSA, are part of a team kayaking from…
Pack 246 of Woodland Hills, Calif., isn’t just a group of Cub Scouts and their parents. Pack 246 is a family. So when Chris L. was hospitalized with pneumonia last week, his packmates were there for him — standing right outside his hospital window with signs and the Pack 246 banner.
